I completed my 1st triathlon at Five Mile Lake with a time of 2:05! It was a year in the making to actually be able to cross the finishes line but I did it. I jumped into triathlons before I was ready with the wrong race for me last September in for my almost 1st triathlon. I refused to even start the run because the swim and bike had been SOOOO miserable. I didn't want to have such a bad, painful experience be my first triathlon. I learned some REALLY important lessons about the need for mental strength and a positive attitude. My demise on Kirkland was my own negativity. My focus for Five Mile Lake was to finish and to be positive. I went as far as writing positive messages to myself the night before on all the ziplocks I packed my gear into. Even a message to have fun and smile that I left on the front door.
While the feeling that I was going to throw up never went away, the race went well and was surprisingly uneventful. I'm still struggling a little on the open water swim but have made so much improvement that I know I will just keep improving. Since Kirkland, I didn't freak out when people touched me or about putting my face in the water. There wasn't any total panic moments. I did struggle with my breathing though. I actually needed to stop about 3-4 times to try to catch my breath cause I wasn't breathing enough air in to be able to keep move. (PS You know your breathing is really loud, bad and scary sounding when people around you are asking you if you are okay and if you need help.)
I swam until I was scrapping my forearms on the shore, stood up and jogged to the transition area while peeling out off my wetsuit. I had a clean, fast transition and was on my bike before I had time to think about it. The first lap of the bike had some comically moments when I realized how slow I was actually moving. I caught myself only going 5 mph a few times and had to just laugh cause I couldn't have gone that slow if I tried. The bike started off with struggling to breath but I eventually found a rhythm to pedal and breath at the same time. I got passed a few times (more than a few on the hills) and actually was able to pass a few people of my own (WHOOOHOOOO). Realized once again how much I enjoy going fast the few times I was able to "floor it" going down the hills. The goal is to get better and always feel that speed ;). My 2nd loop felt much better and faster than my 1st time around. I was able to catch a few people that passed me on the 1st loop while on the 2nd loop which felt great... one even going up a hill which is amazing in an of itself.
I finished the bike strong, hit the transition area and everything started twirling. So I completed T2 sitting down but still felt like it was pretty quick. The run was by far the LONGEST 3 miles in my life. I forced myself to run out of the transition area, through the park and up the 1st hill. It was a slow run but it was technically the motion of running so it counts. By the top of the hill, the dizziness was still there, my ability to breath had left me and my right calf was one solid cramp. I took a second to stretch my legs and focus on breathing then keep moving forward. I did a run/walk mix focusing on pushing the run a little past when I wanting to stop, only walking for a little bits at a time and walking as fast as I could during those walk times. I got passed by a LOT of people on the run but I REFUSED to let it bother me because I was giving it everything I had at that moment.
As soon as I rounded the corner into the park for the final loop, the tears started threatening to fall. I fought those tears that entire loop... sometimes unsuccessfully. I was able to finish strong and crossed the finish line among the cheering of all my teammates. Tina was the first that got to me, called me a triathlete and I started sobbing. There were lots of hugs and eventually I got the tears a little more under control. It was a great experience. I'm definitely glad I didn't finish the Kirkland race because I will be able to always remember yesterday's race as my 1st triathlon... a race I am HAPPY to call my 1st.
Official Results:
2:05:46 Total Time ~ Finished 200th out of 213
0:11:56 Swim ~ Tri PR by 6:05 ~ 188 out of 215
0:01:29 T1 ~ 32nd out of 208 individuals
1:03:15 Bike ~ Tri PR by 17:26 ~ 182 out of 213
0:01:24 T2 ~ 130th out of 208 individuals
0:47:40 Run ~ 206th out of 213
